Hundreds of Chechens march against the stigmatization of their community, in Rennes and Strasbourg

Several hundred Chechens demonstrated, Saturday March 27, in Rennes and Strasbourg, against the stigmatization of which their community is according to them the object and to honor the memory of one of theirs shot dead last week in the Breton capital.

“We are shot twice: the first time to kill us, the second time to make us dirty”, denounced Magomed, 30, neighbor of Hamzat Labazanov, 23, killed by a bullet in the head, on March 17 in broad daylight, in the Cleunay district in Rennes. Nearly 400 Chechens, coming from all over Brittany, from Le Mans or from Rouen, gathered in Rennes near the building of the victim. They observed a time of prayer and then walked to Carrefour City in front of which Hamzat was killed.

“As soon as something happens with a Chechen, we get this label attached.”

In Strasbourg, around 150 Chechens also gathered at Place de la République, some of whom came from Paris, Nice or Reims. “We are political refugees who left our homeland to live in peace”proclaimed a sign.